Mulayam's lions will not roar in Etawah in Maya's Raj

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2008, 17:36 [IST]

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New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh has dumped the ambitious project of her political rival Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to create a lion safari in his native district of Etawah.

''The main problem is to get the lions for the safari. There is no further progress on the project, and it is not on our priority for now,'' said state Chief Wildlife Warden DNS Suman who had come here to take part in a national forest and wildlife meet.

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has cleared the project, mooted in 2004 by Mr Yadav when he was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The safari was to be set up in the ravines of the district.

However, there were certain conditions put up by the CZA. ''We require at leats eight to ten lions, as per the CZA norms, and first we will have to breed the lions in the safari and then open it to public,'' said Mr Suman.

Mr Suman said there were also some financial constraints as procuring and breeding lions required a huge amount.

About the night safari project in Greater NOIDA, Mr Suman said the CZA had cleared the project to be executed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA).

He, however, said the project was yet to be cleared by the Supreme Court.

Mr Suman said the night safari was being developed to create an interest in people about environment and wildlife. The park would cover an area of about 150 acres. The animals would be confined to specified spaces, properly illuminated for viewing.

The night safari will be developed on the lines of the first night safari of the world in Singapore.